Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-05

naSned his light In the face OF Engineer
Lem Eastman. The latter at the same
moment saw the light of the freight en-
glne, and giving wild shrek OF the
whistle for brakes, be reversed his engine
and jumped for his life, crashing through
the window of the cab, carrying the
glass and sash with him, and alighting in
a heavy snow DRIFT. He escaped serious
INJURY, his hurts being confined to a
slight wound upon his knee.
FATAL HESITATION.
AS he realized the danger he called to
his fireman, William Fredericks, to save
himself. The latter was engaged in
stoking the fire, and raised up a moment
and hesitAted TO glance forward as if to
estimate the danger. This was fatal, as
at that instant the crash came, and poor
Fredericks was pinned and crushed by
mass of wreckage. The effect of the col
lislon can be better imagined than
described. The engines of the two trains
reared into the air like a
pair OF enraged living monsters, and
then settled down upon the track,
being driven into each other until the cyl
inders touched. The force OF the impact
jammed the baggage cars into the tender
OF the fast train, the express car into the
baggage car, and the smoker into the eX-
press car. In less time than five minutes
from the moment OF the collision, and be-
lore any organized effort at rescue could
be made, the fire of the overturned stoves
communicated to the woodwork and
flames leaped up in the air, their roar
mingling with the cries of anguish of the
imprisoned victims, to whom death in its
most terrible form was horrid presence.
POWERLEss TO HELP.
Trainmen and uninjured passengers
were powerless and could do nothing to
rescue the sufferers. The express train
was in charge of Conductor Tom Haskell
Engineer Lem Eastman and Fireman Will
liam Frederick, and consisted of engine
No. 726, mail and baggage car, express,
smoker, coach and two sleepers-
The freight train was In charge of
Conductor Fletcher, Engineer Killer and
Fireman W. j. Culllson, and consisted of
engine No. 925 and sixteen loaded and a
few empty gondolas.
The smoker contained from twelve to
fifteen passengers, some OF whom were
immigrants. Three men escaped alive,
but their names were not learned. Bag
gagemaster w. F. Gales, of Newark, was
the only man in his car and he was hurt
in both legs, his lett leg being cut in sew
eral places, and splinter or rod had run
into his right foot.
BRADLEY'S HORRIBLE FATE.
c. p. Bradley, of Washington, d. c.,
was found hanging from the window OF
the smoker. but his legs were fast and he
could not be removed. There he remained
until he was burned to death, and his
charredremains fell to the ground black
and shapeless mass. He was conscious
and gave mis- address to bystanders, and
also said he was an officer of the knights
of Labor organization. He gave his
watch and other yaluables he could get
from his pockets to Conductor Fletcher
OF the freight train.
THE POsTLETHwATTEs.
Joseph PostlethwaIte, aged 81, and his
sons, Spencer aged Is and Henry aged IL
were sitting in the same seat in the
smoker and their charred remains were
found in the ruins OF the cars. Mr.
POstlethwaite, his wife, two boys. and J.
year'Old girl by former wife, little 10y
of years and baby girl of years
had sold their farm of $50 acres in Wet.
zell county, West Virginia, and were
moving to Chiliicothe, Mo-, near where
Mr.. POstlethwaite had a brother living
ard where he would make his future
home. He had about $500 in cash, q
check for $500 and several
notes in his pocket and these
were burned with mis- body.
leaving his poor widow with three chill.
dren, no clothing except what she wore,
and so cents in money. Her hubsbad and
two BOYS had left her but few moments
before and gone from the cOach to the
smoker. Mr.. Postlethwaite, as a half
melted medal found in the wreck indi-
Gated. was soldier IN the Union ranks
in the late war, being a member OF COM
pany A, Seventeenth regiment West Vir-
ginia volunteer Infantry.
FREDERICKs' DEATH.
William Fredericks, fireman OF the ex-
press. was caught between the tender
and engine and lived for two hours, but it
was found impossible to effect his release.
His mother Is a widow aud lives in Wash
ington, ID. G. He was member of the
Brotherhood Of Flremen, which organiza-
ton took charge Of his remains. His face
in death depicted the agony OF his suffer-
ings before death came to his relief.
n. II. Parks. whose address could not
be learned, was also wedged in the Wrec k
and burned to death, after handing his
money, letter and cards to one OF the rail-
road employees. His body was also con-
sumed, as we're those OF several others,
whose names are not known, and perhaps
never will be.
The scene at Chamberlain's undertak-
ing establishment was one calculated to
shapeless trunks OF human beings were
stretched out in a row like SO many
charred logs. There were Postletwaite
aud the two sons side by side, and seven
others. none of whom could be recognized.
and near them mass OF flesh and
bone that NAV have been parts OF
the bodies of "A dozen different people
No doubt many more perished in tue
wreck, as the number VINO escaped and
the remains recovered Is not equal to the
number reported in the smoking car. The
number actualiy lost may never be known
A number of watches were found in the
wreck.
WHAT WASHING TON LEARNED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-From a mum.
ber OF dispatches from Western points II
is gathered that Express Messenger W.
Scott Price, OF Wheeling, William
Frederick, Of Washington, areman of the
express, and +. G. BARLEY, Of Washing.
ton, were among the killed. The tOta<
number ofpassengers was sixty-fve. The
smoker was entirely consumed, and all
the passengers in IL were killed. All the
mail and express matter was destroyed.
Tae number OF bodies taken from the
wreck ID yariousy stated at eight, ten